The Daily Telegraph

Annus horribilis? 2017 has been a success, says a defiant May

- By Steven Swinford DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR

THERESA MAY has denied that she has endured a “horrible” year as she renewed her pledge to fight the next election as Tory leader.

The Prime Minister said that she “in it for the long term”.

She added that while she will “undoubtedl­y” deliver Britain’s exit from the European Union she does not want to be known only as “Madame Brexit”.

Speaking during a trip to RAF Akrotiri, in Cyprus, Mrs May insisted that her year has been a success despite a is disastrous snap election, a botched coup and the resignatio­n of three members of Cabinet.

She said: “I’m here to do the job that I believe needs to be done and that’s what I’m going to focus on. I’m doing the job that I believe is right for the British people.”

During a trip to Poland this week the Prime Minister was accidental­ly described as “Madame Brexit” by a translator. Mrs May said: “You might have noticed I smiled when I heard the translatio­n of Mrs Brexit or Madame Brexit. Look, I am going to deliver on Brexit. That is undoubtedl­y the case, but I am doing other things as well. If you look at the changes we are making on skills, education and training for example.”

The Prime Minister said that Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant has been “crushed” in Iraq and Syria as she hailed the armed forces as “simply the pride of our nation”.

She told servicemen and women: “Here in Cyprus you are at the epicentre of so much of our military activity in the region. It is you, your profession­alism, your courage and your sacrifices that give meaning to the pledges we make as a nation.”

 ??  ?? Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, and his counterpar­t Sergei Lavrov during a press conference following their meeting in Moscow yesterday.
Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, and his counterpar­t Sergei Lavrov during a press conference following their meeting in Moscow yesterday.

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